How climate shaped bears, dogs, and more

Researchers at the University of Washington studied over 850 carnivoran specimens to understand how climate changes shaped their body shapes.
The study found that two major climate transitions, around 34 million years ago and 15-13 million years ago, led to changes in body shape between different carnivoran families.
For example, the Eocene-Oligocene Transition changed the body shape between cat-like and dog-like species, while the Mid-Miocene Climate Transition changed within canid species.
The researchers analyzed skeletal shapes of over 200 existing and 81 extinct species to gain insights into how climate influenced their evolution.
The study’s findings were published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B and provide new insights into the impact of climate change on animal body shapes, shedding light on the diversity of carnivorans today.

A black bear and cub look at the camera.

New research digs into how changes in Earth’s climates shaped a group of animals called carnivorans.

The ancestors of our furry cats and dogs once looked similar to today’s modern mongoose, a mammal with a long body and small, round ears. In fact, all members of the order Carnivora, which includes a variety of mammalian species, such as bears, wolves, and even seals, evolved from these “mongoose-like” creatures.

How did such a variety of body shapes emerge from one body type? The new research led by the University of Washington suggests that two different climate transitions millions of years ago fueled this change.

The team, led by Chris Law, a UW principal research scientist in biology, studied the skeletal shapes of more than 850 carnivoran specimens held at 17 different natural history museums. The specimens include almost 200 different species of carnivorans: 118 that currently exist and 81 that are extinct.

The researchers found that the Eocene-Oligocene Transition, which took place around 34 million years ago, led to changes in body shape between different carnivoran families—such as between cats and dogs. Then the Mid-Miocene Climate Transition, which took place around 15 to 13 million years ago, led to changes within families—such as changes between canid species.

The team published these findings in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Here, Law, who is also an affiliate curator at the UW Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, explains more about these results and what they mean for carnivorans today:

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Q. What group of animals did the research focus on?

A. The study focused on carnivorans, a group that includes bears, dogs, wolves, and seals.

Q. How many species of carnivorans were studied by the researchers?

A. The researchers analyzed over 850 carnivoran specimens from more than 200 different species.

Q. What two climate transitions did the researchers identify as significant in shaping the body shapes of carnivorans?

A. The Eocene-Oligocene Transition (around 34 million years ago) and the Mid-Miocene Climate Transition (around 15 to 13 million years ago).

Q. How did the first climate transition affect the body shape of different carnivoran families?

A. It led to changes in body shape between different carnivoran families, such as between cats and dogs.

Q. What was the effect of the second climate transition on the body shapes within carnivoran families?

A. It led to changes within families, such as changes between canid species.

Q. Where did the researchers obtain the skeletal specimens for their study?

A. The specimens were held at 17 different natural history museums.

Q. Who led the research team that published the findings in Proceedings of the Royal Society B?

A. Chris Law, a principal research scientist in biology at the University of Washington.

Q. What is the significance of the study’s findings for carnivorans today?

A. The study provides insights into how climate changes have shaped the evolution of different species within the Carnivora order over millions of years.